If you’ve recently had a string of bad weather come through, or if you can’t exactly remember how long it’s been since you’ve had a professional roof inspection completed at your home, you’re going to want to keep reading. We’re going to cover things you can expect when you schedule a roof inspection.
Make no mistake – roof inspections are a pretty big deal. Think about it: your roof is your last line of defense between you and the elements. Sure, you can take matters into your own hands and try to check for issues, but there may be areas or problems you didn’t see.
A professional roof inspection is one of the only ways to ensure your roof is still doing what it needs to: keeping the weather out. A regular inspection can protect you from headaches and massive bills in the long-run; so without further ado – let’s get into it!
Exterior Roof Inspection
Some might think that getting on the roof and looking for missing shingles is all that is needed to determine if your roof has damage or leaks, but a lot of areas may be overlooked by an untrained eye.
A quality roof inspector has specific training and experience, and may even have professional licenses and certifications to help them inspect the entire structure of your roof. They’ll be looking for things like:
Overall Structure and Workmanship: Your inspector is going to be looking for things like sagging decking or uneven planes along your roof. They’re also going to look at fascia and soffit to make sure there aren’t any missing pieces or cracks and breaks.
If you have a masonry chimney, the inspector is going to check that out as well. Cracks in the grout or brick itself can lead to water troubles under your roofing materials and in your attic.
Skylights, vents, and other additions to your roof will also be inspected to make sure the work done to install them didn’t compromise the integrity of your roof.
Flashing and Caulk: Flashing is typically a piece of metal designed to cover gaps or edges where one roofing material ends and another begins to help prevent and repel moisture.
Your roofing inspector will check for cracks in both flashing and caulk, especially where chimneys meet the roof, along dormers, in valleys and eaves. They’re not as durable as your roof itself, so it’s imperative flashing gets replaced and caulk repaired before they cause bigger problems.
Shingle and Metal Condition: Shingles can crack, break, and deteriorate over time. Metal roofing can get loose at the seams and pop screws.
Mold, algae, and rust are also things that your professional inspector will be looking for as signs of deterioration and potential leaks.
Gutters and Downspouts: The roof inspector will also make sure your gutters and downspouts are in good shape and securely attached to your roof. They’ll be looking for an excess of asphalt shingle granules at the bottom of them both, as this is a good indicator of an aging shingle roof.
Interior Roof Inspection
When roof inspection day comes, your inspector is going to want to look inside of your home as well as in the attic. Roof inspectors working through your home will be looking for a few different things:
Stained or Sagging Sheetrock: If your roof is leaking, chances are your sheetrock will show it with stains, mold, or sagging.
Wet, Matted, or Damaged Attic Insulation: Just because your ceilings and walls don’t show water damage, doesn’t mean your roof isn’t leaking. It could be the leak is slight (which is relatively good news for you,) and is only being caught in the insulation.
Ventilation: While checking the insulation, your roof inspector will also be checking how well your attic breathes. If your attic isn’t circulating air as it should, it could retain moisture and thus create mold, rot, and mildew, which will inevitably affect your roof’s integrity.
Stained Decking or Rafters: Another telltale sign of a water leak, these may be harder to spot, but rest assured — a qualified roofing inspector will know to look long and hard for these kinds of stains on your roof decking and rafters.
After the Inspection
When your inspector is finished, you should receive a detailed report about your roof’s condition and what repairs are recommended or necessary.
If your roof requires repairs or replacement, do what you can to hire and schedule a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor like Buildpro.
Buildpro: Your Roof Inspection Contractor
When you choose Buildpro for your inspection and roofing projects, you decide to get the best products, the best warranties, and the best workmanship on the market.
We’ve partnered with industry-leading brands like Owens Corning, IKO, Sheffield Metals and Mueller Metal Roofing to bring you warranties and certifications that guarantee your new roof will be one for the ages.
So, if you’re ready for your roof’s checkup, contact us today for a free, no obligation roof inspection and estimate.